Tamarix hispida aka Kashgar Tamarisk

Tamarix hispida belongs to the Tamaricaceae family. It also goes by the name Kashgar tree. Its native range runs from Iran to Mongolia and northern China. Records also place it in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and southern European Russia. It grows in temperate regions and is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Plants For A Future describes a deciduous shrub with moderate growth. It gives a height of about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Kew records its form more broadly as a shrub or tree. The supplied sources give no mature spread or larger height. Flowers appear in September, according to Plants For A Future. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects carry pollen between the flowers.

This plant needs sun and does not grow in shade. It accepts sand, loam, and heavy clay, but prefers good drainage. It also grows in shingle and copes with salty ground. Its soil range runs from mildly acid to very alkaline. Coastal plants withstand sea winds and dry soil. Inland plants need more moisture when the soil lacks salt. They also need shelter from cold winds that dry the foliage. A deep, good loam suits these inland sites. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 5–9. It notes that limited sun may hinder growth in British gardens. A sunny wall offers a site to try there.

Garden uses include hedges and the sunny edges of woodland gardens. Its tolerance of sea winds makes it useful for coastal shelter. Planting on dunes and sandy ground can help hold soil in place. Plants For A Future regards it as easy to grow. It reports no known food or medicinal uses. It also lists no known hazards, rather than confirming tested safety. The supplied evidence names no specific pests or diseases.

Seeds and cuttings provide ways to raise new plants. Sow seeds in spring in a cold frame with a light covering. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Keep them in a greenhouse through their first winter. Plant them outside after the last expected frost. Half-ripe cuttings can root in a frame during July or August. Mature cuttings from the current year's growth can go outdoors in late autumn.